Our Missing Hearts is about so much more than book bans, although most books were banned and libraries were not the same as what we think of when we think of libraries. I really can't decide if the story of Our Missing Hearts was any more or any less frightening than what we're living thru right now.
Bird, the child of a Chinese American poet and an American father who works as a linguist, had a happy early childhood. At some point, his mother disappears. He is now living with his father who now has a job shelving books at a university (Harvard?) library. The goal of the society they are living in is to preserve "American culture." Children of those who are against these policies, especially those of Asian origin whom are targeted directly by most of the laws, are removed from their parents and re-placed.
The novel starts with 12-year old bird receiving a drawing from his missing mother. He doesn't really know why his mother disappeared or where she might be. But the drawing that he receives he believes is a clue for him to be able to find her. Such begins his quest.
I can't say that I enjoyed the book, because it really is a horrifying story. But it will make a wonderful book club novel and I'm sure at some point my community book club will select this one.
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